Cultivating means



Sept. 6,1927, G. T. STRITE 1,641,207

CULTIVATING MEANS Filed Oct. 1'7. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet l fave/W 1, 41,2 Sept. 6,1927. G'ISTR'TE Q e 01 CULTIVATING MEANS Filed Oct. 1'7, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 9Q 0W Tania MW-i Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

' UNITED STATES Q-FFHQ E GEORGE '1. STRITE. OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOR. ONE-THIRD TO HARRY W. BOLENS, 0F PORT WASHINGTON, WISCONSIN, AND ONE-THIRD TO PAUL D. DURAN'I, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCUNSIN.

CULTIVATING MEANS.

Application filed October 17, 1921. Serial No. 508,293.

This invention relates to cultivating means.

The purpose of all ground cultivating, after the plants have started to grow, is to destroy obnoxious weeds. to break thecrust that forms over the surface of the ground after a rain, and to pulverize the surface of the ground to form a fine dry mulch which prevents'obnoxious weeds from starting and which absorbs and quickly passes moisture to the underlying plant roots, retainingthe moisture there, and'which prevents acrust from forming over the surface of the ground until after another rain.

Most, if not all, of the propelled cultivators in use today do not properly treat the ground, nor do they destroy Weeds to any great extent without; harming the cultivated plants, the ground around which is being worked. For example, a cultivator shovel drawn through the ground moves the earth and weeds slightly forward and to one side, leaving a furrow. The furrow may be covered by the operation of a second adjacent shovel, but the last shovel will always leave a furrow whereby moisture may be drawn therefrom. The ground is left uneven, large chunks of earth are thrown or tumbled over the surface, and if the ground is not pulverized or mulched as it should be, the shovels will go too deep and turn up the moist soil, and weeds will begin to grow again. Such shovels bury more weeds than they destroy, or simply transplant the weeds from one position to another without destroying same.

One object of the present invention is to provide simple, eflicient and durable means for properly treating or mulching soil, particularly around plants undergoing cultivationrwithout harming such plants and at the same time destroying weeds.

Another object is to provide a power driven hoe which effectively mulches soil and which reduces the required propelling power to a minimum.

Another object is to provide a cultivator adapted to meet the various requirements for successful commercial use.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of the arrangements disclosed on the accompanying sheets of drawings, in which=- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tractor cultivator embodying my invention;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevation,

on an enlarged scale, showing the ground working tools, actuating mechanism therefor and some associated parts; 1

Figure 4 is a detail front elevational view of the guard against which the soil is thrown; and

, Figure 5is a. sectional view through the guards between which the plants are received during the cultivating operation.

The various novel features of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Referring to the figures of the drawings it will be noted that I have disclosed my in vention in connection with a tractor embodying ground working tools which are actuated by the motor which propels the tractor. It will be understood, of course, that the ground working tools may be operated from any suitable source. The frameof the'tractor includes a yoke 10, upon which engine 11 is mounted. Secured to opposite sides of the yoke 10 are castings 12 which form bearings for the axle 13, upon oppositeends of which the traction wheels 14: are mounted, and for the bull pinion shaft 15. Mounted loosely upon each end of the bull pinion shaft 15 for rotation thereon is a sleeve. 16 to the outer portion of each of which is secured a pinion 17 meshing with an internal gear 18 formed'integrally with or secured to the associated traction wheels 14 for transmitting propelling power thereto. Keyed to the opposite end of each of said sleeves 16 is a gear 19 which meshes with and is driven by gear 20' mounted upon a shaft 21 having hearings in an oil-tight casing 22. Secured to an extending end of each of these shafts 21 is ashea-ve 23 around'ea-ch of which an associated belt 24 passes, the latter in each case also passing around an as sociated sheave 25, one mounted at eachend of the engine cam shaft26 whereby the parts connected thereto are, driven at one-half of the motor speed. Each of the oil-tight casother, the associated shafts 21, gears 20 and sheaves 28 are rocked in the same sense. Normally the casings 52:2 and the other parts mentioned in connection therewith are yield. ahly held in an upward position, wherein the connecting helts 9t loosely engage the sheaves 23 and as a result o t the action of springs 27, one end of each of which is connected to a projection 98 at the under; side of each casing: 2- and the opposite end of each of which spring-s is secured to a tinger .29 depending from frame ltl oil? the tram tor.

In Figure l of the drawings, the helt l-l is shown loose or in a non-driving relation with respect to the sheaves E23 and However, it it is desired to transmit power from the engine 11 to the traction wheels let the same may he done by rotatingthe casinos 22 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1. For controlling this movement there is secured to the lower end of each of the casings .22 one end of a connecting rod 30, the opposite end oi? each of which is pivotally connected at (ll to an intermediate part of an associated toot control lever 32, the lower and of each ot which is pivotally connected at to a bracket 3 lsecured to a central frame member 35 extending forwardly from and secured to a. member 3t; ot the main frame 10. It is apparent, therefore, that it it is desired to propel the tractor :torwardly in a straight line hoth tloot control levers 32- will he thrust forwardly, and it it is desired to turn the tractor through the operation of the traction wheels 14, this may be accomplished by thrusting :torwardly only one or the other of said foot control levers 32 for steering the tractor to the right or to the left. When the sheaves 23 are pulled upwardly and :lorwardly hy the springs 97 the periphery of each of the sheaves strikes a fiber block which automatically acts as a brake on the traction "wheel Ll for il'acilitating' short turning of the tractor.

The ground working tools illustrated in the drawings are hoes and they are actuated in pairs through two separate crank shatts 37, each crank shaft in this particular instance having two crank portions Each crank shaft 3? is journaled in hearing portions 39 formed in the outer ends of arms 40, which, in turn t'orin portions of a yoke 41 pivotally mounted upon a transrersely extending supporting shaft 452, which in turn is supported by a bracket secured to the central frame member 35. The yoke ll is provided with a hand control lever all by means of which the yoke and, accordingly, the rotary hoes to he referred to in detail hereinafter, may he raised and lowered, said control lever having a hand controlled dettent: 45 cooperating with a stationary segment- 46 whereby the yoke and hoes may he supported in dill'erent positions or at ditlferent heights.

Secured to each crank shaft 37 is a sheave l7 around which an associated hell; 48 passes, said helt also passing around a sheave a l-ii secured to a transversely extending shaft on supported in hearing nlei'nhers til. Also secured to the shaft 50 are a plurality of sheaves 5112 around which pass associated helts 53, which in turn pass around sheaves f -lsecured to the crank shaft ot the en- ;rinc ll. 'lhe arraiuneinent at each side or the tractor is the saline and the hoes at. each side are iinlcpcndcntly driven with respect to the hoes at the other side.

liroin the arrzuigenient shown in lligure l ot' the drawingggs it: will he appreciated that; it' the control levers ii; are moved forwardly a prcdeternlincd amount H0111 the position shown the sheaves ll-i will he raised, causing the halt hi to hecoine loose with respect thereto, whereupon the hoes will cease to he actuated. llpon returning the control levers -l-l; to the position shown in Figure l, with the engine in operation, the hoes again will he rotated.

is mentioned generally hcreinahove, there are two sets ol hoes on each side of the tractor, one set including a i'orward hoe 56 and a rear hoe 57, both of which are socured to a spring arm 58, an intermediate portion ol" which is opcratively connected to one crank 38 and the upper end of which is (.ipcratively connected, at 59 to one end of a pair of links (it), the opposite ends of which links are loosely nujuintcd on a. shaft; til arricd in the upper ends of a pair olf arms 52 formed integrally with the arms l0. Likewise the second set of hoes on the same side of the tractor includes a tin-ward hoe (t l and a rear hoe (lit secured to a spring arm (35. an intermediate portion of which is opcratively connected to the other crank 38 and the upper end (it which likewise connected to a second pair of links 66 loosely mounted on the shaft. til. Accordingly, under operating conditions, it: will he seen that the portions ol the hoc-supporting arms 58 and (35 connected to the cranks 38 will take a circular path, while the upper ends oil. said SHPLMHtlHQ arms 58 and as connected to the pairs of links (50 and 66 will more in the arc of a circle with the shaft. (31 as a center. As a. result thcreoit, the hoes which are mounted at; the ends ol. the lower or longer portions (ill the supl'iortiup arms 58 and (35, will he given a relatively long stroke movement in taking elliptical paths, as indicated hy the dotted lines in Figure 23 ot the drawings.

It will he noted that the forward hoes 5(5 and G3 in each set have their cutting edges located ahove the cutting edges of the associated rear hoes 57 and ti t in each case. so that the total depth o't ground to he treated or lnnlched hy the hoes will he in two stages, the forward hoe in each case outtinginto the ground one-half of the" total depth and the rear hoe cutting into the groundthe remaining one-half of the total depth. lNhile both hoes are working simultaneously, the'front and rear hoes cut over a particular spot in succession.

Referring particularly to Figure of the drawings,-it will be noted that when the forward hoe 56' digs into the ground a distance indicated by the letter a, which is-one-half of the total depth that the ground is mulched, thehoe 57 is giving the second stage treatment by digging into the ground a distance indicated by the letter' Z), sothat the total depth ofground indicated by a and- Z) is mulched in two stages; The ground which is sliced or scooped into by the rotary hoe 56 together with any weeds which are in the path of said hoe 56, accordingly are cut and thrown rearwardly against the hoe 57 with considerable force, thereby assisting in pulverizing the soil and shaking any earth which may have adhered to the roots of weeds disturbed by the hoe 56. The hoe 57 then in turn on its next cutting stroke, in addition to slicing and chopping through the soil thus partially mulched and further disturbing the weeds already acted upon by the hoe 56, cuts down into the ground an additional amount, taking the earth and weeds and roots of weeds in its path, and throwing the same forcibly against one of the two guards 67 for completing the mulching action of the earth andbreaking away from the weeds what earth has up to this time clung to the roots thereof. In addition to the ground being well mulched, the weeds are positively destroyed. The lower end of each of the guards 67 is curved rearwardly and smooths off or levels the mulched ground, leaving it at a slightly higher level than it occupied before treatment by the hoes. The guard members 67 are adjustably secured to a bracket 68 which in turn is secured to the central frame member 35. The cutting stroke of each of the hoes is a downward and rearward digging and slicing cut be hind which there is relatively great force due "to the high speed at which the hoes entered the ground. The speed with which the hoes enter the ground is greater than the speed with which the hoes leave the ground, due to the paths of movement of the hoes as indicated in Figure 3 of the draw-.

ings.

If the hoes strike a rock or other nonyieldable substance, not only will the spring supporting arms 58 and 65 yield, but also the hoes will be permitted to rise against the tension of a spring 6 9 which is interposed between a lip 70 on the control lever 44 and a projection 71 extending laterally from one of the arms 40, a second lip 72 formed on the control lever 44 limiting the. extent of downward movement of the hoes.

- For protecting the plants under cultivation two side guards 73 are provided between which-therow of vegetation 7 4 is reccivedt These-side guards 73 are adjustably mounted on a rod 75. which in turn is secured to a bracket 76 mounted on the central frame member 35.

' By means of'this= arrangement theground treated is finely pulverized or mulched, leaving the soil in a finely divided state, forming a loose, soft, level blanket which-readily absorbsmoisture and transmits it to the subsoil in which the roots of the plants being cultivated arelocated. 'The weeds which are in the-path ofthe hoes are cut and otherwise destroyed as a result of the earth or soil being entirely separated or knocked from" their roots. The soil is cultivated to a uniform depth whereby the same soil is mulched each time the ground is treated. The seed bed below the treated depth of soil is not disturbed in any manner whatsoever, and accordingly, is not directly exposed to the heat of the sun. The hoes can cultivate much closer to the plants than heretofore has been possible, and without damage to the roots of the plants. The hoes in this arrangement leave no furrows to carry off the water or to expose the seed bed to the heat of the sun to evaporate or absorb the moisture out of the seed bed. By increasing or decreasing the speed of operation of the hoes the ground may be cultivated or pulverized to any desired extent.

It will be noted that the cutting stroke of the hoes, which is rearward of the machine, has a tendency to advance the tractor, thereby reducing the power required to propel the tractor to a minimum.

In connection with the quick and accurate guiding of the tractor to prevent injury to the plants, it will be noted that the front of the tractor is provided with a pair of guide wheels 77, the steeringknuckles or vertical pivotal pins 78 of which are in advance of 1 points at which the guiding wheels 77 engage the ground, so that when the operator, who sits on the seat 79, turns the wheels to the right or left through the control handle 80, he steers said guiding wheels one way or the other, the tractor as a whole promptly responding in the same direction. Accordingly, even though plants are in arather irregular row, the ground around said plants may be mulched or pulverized without any danger whatsoever to the plants, it being a simple matter through the guiding means here described, to steer the tractor in such a manner that the plants at all times will be maintained between the protecting side guards 73. I

It is my intention to cover all modifications of the invention falling within the spirit and scope of the following claims. I.

I claim:

1. In ground cultivating mechanism, the combination of a ground working tool, an arm to which said tool is connected, a crank shaft operativcly connected to said arm for actiuiting said tool, means for varying the heighto t said crank shaft, and means for yicli'lahty supporting the crank shaft Wherehy it theground 'worl-zing tool encounters an impcmctrahle substance the tool and associated parts will not be damaged.

:3. in ground cultii 'ating mechanism, the combination of a ground working tool, an arm to which said tool is secured, a crank shail't operatively coni'iectcd to said arm for animating said too], means for supporting said crank shalt, means for varying the height of said supporting means, and means associated with said supporting means and said arm i'or controlling the stroke of said ground working tool.

3. In ground cultivating mechanism, the combination of a ground working tool, an arm to which said tool secured, a crank shai't operativoly connected to said arm for actuating said tool means for supporting said crank shaft, means associated with said su 'iporting means and said arm for controlling the stroke of said ground working tool, and means for varying the vertical position of said crank shaft, control means and ground working tool with respect to the ground to control the amount ot ground the tool penetrates.

l. in a power proi'iellcd implement, a frame. a motor mounted on said 'lran'ie, a ground working tool, a crank shatt through which said ground working tool is given a groinul slicing action :[or mulching the soil, means whcreh said crank shaft is driven from said motor, and means for changing the position of said crank shaft for changing the driving relationship between said motor and said tool.

Signed at Port \Vashington, \Visconsiu, this 26th day of September, 1921.

GRUB-GE T. PTRITE. 

